As most teams hit the midway mark in their season this week, TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on some of the players who have stood out to me in the first half. Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Hes delivered on every level. Sure, LeBron James is the best all-around player in the game today yet hes had stretches where he seems to have it on cruise control. Durant brings it for you all the time and for that, I give it to him at the midpoint. ROOKIE: (MICHAEL CARTER WILLIAMS-Sixers) - Simply put, brilliant. His team has been abysmal without him and yet have a decent (considering theyre in tank mode) 12-18 record when he plays. This guy is a better player than he was in college at Syracuse, much like Russell Westbrook at UCLA. He impacts the game on so many fronts its ridiculous. I love watching him play and if I cant catch his game, I make sure I check the boxscores from his games to see his eye-popping stats. I shook my head when they traded Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans on draft night but now I completely understand why they did. Theyve got a major impact guy to run their team for years to come. Special talent. COACH: (JEFF HORNACEK-Suns) - Could have gone with Terry Stotts of the Trail Blazers or Frank Vogel of the Pacers here but who figured the Suns would be this good this year? No one. They were one of the teams in the discussion as being in full tank mode yet a funny thing happened on the way to the lottery. This team plays really hard. Wonderful decision to team the two point guards together (Dragic and Bledsoe). They play with energy and a purpose. Outstanding role definition and they share the ball. To me, the coaching has been a major factor bringing it all together nicely. The injury to Eric Bledsoe is a major blow and Im not sure if they can hold on to a playoff spot but at this point, youve got to give major props to Hornacek and his staff for a job well done. DEFENCE: (ROY HIBBERT-Pacers) - All he does every night is block and alter shots and make you think twice and a third time about bringing your game into the lane. On top of that, he rebounds and is a physical force in the paint. The Pacers are the leagues best defensive team and a huge reason is the fact that they have outstanding rim protection and it all starts with this man. Offensively, hes become a much more polished player as well. He said his goal was to be the top defender in the league and in my book, hes it. MOST IMPROVED: (LANCE STEPHENSON-Pacers) - This second round pick has continued to get better and better. He had a lot of rough edges to his game and his personality coming out of Cincinnati but to his credit, hes slowly but surely emerged as a significant part of the attack of the leagues top team. He can score, rebound, pass and guard for you. Plays with great passion and intensity and has slowed his game down and now plays at a controlled speed with a purpose. Will get a nice raise this off-season. Well earned and well deserved. RAPTORS MVP: (KYLE LOWRY) - No doubt about this pick. Hes been a constant with his leadership, defence and clutch play. Has major league competitive spirit in his personality and zero back-down as well. Give him credit, hes in the best shape of his career (I love guys in their contract year, its amazing how it happens like this so often) and it shows in his game. His ability to get in the lane and create for teammates has grown nicely along with his consistency with the 3-point shot which makes him a greater force in the screen-and-roll game. Ultimately, you watch this team this year and his personality and will to win and pay the price has made this an enjoyable first half of the season for Raptors fans. Yes, there have been plenty of bumps in the road but when you think of Lowry, hes been a major bright spot. Good for him, hes paid the price and gives it to you consistently. Manu Ginobili Jersey . -- Kenneth Faried made a turnaround hook shot over Draymond Green with a half-second remaining, and the Denver Nuggets made Golden State wait at least one more game to secure a playoff berth with a stunning 100-99 win over the Warriors on Thursday night. Matt Bonner Spurs Jersey . According to the Globe and Mail, a decision between the NHL and the Players Association should come within the six months. "I can tell you, (a decision) shouldnt take all that long," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Globe and Mail. http://www.authenticspursauthority.com/ ... rsey-c-14/. Wiggins, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward who plays his first exhibition game on Wednesday against Pitt State, was the top prospect in the class of 2013. George Gervin Jersey . Kenny Miller scored from the penalty spot and Camilo Sanvezzo came off the bench to add two late goals as the Whitecaps kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 victory over the sagging Impact on Saturday afternoon. Dejounte Murray Spurs Jersey . Canada Day is here and with it comes Free Agent Frenzy as the NHLs 30 teams storm out of the gate for signing season.Auburn Hills, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Singler scored 20 points on a career-high six 3-pointers to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 107-89 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope registered 17 points, while Anthony Tolliver and Jodie Meeks added 16 and 15 points, respectively, off the bench for Detroit. We got off to a great start, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. I think our guys took a lot of pride to come out and be ready to play. Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond combined for 28 of the Pistons 47 rebounds in their fourth win in five games. Michael Carter-Williams paced the Sixers with 15 points to go along with six assists. I just think the mindset, coming into the game, not having the focus on the defensive end, Sixers coach Brett Brown said. Brandon Jennings hit consecutive 3-pointers, then followed with a jumper that was part of a 15-4 run to open the game for Detroit. Singler supplied 11 points in the frame to help the Pistons to a 31-21 lead entering the second..dddddddddddd Caldwell-Pope netted seven straight points to close a 17-4 run that stretched Detroits margin to 52-29 with under three minutes left in the second. Carter-Williams was a bright spot for Philadelphia in the first half, as he scored its final eight points to help the visitors cut the gap to 56-37 at the break. The Pistons went 8-for-16 from beyond the arc in the opening half and limited the Sixers to 2-of-15 shooting from deep. Philadelphia closed to within 10 in the third after a Hollis Thompson floater, but Detroit ended the quarter on a 15-6 run to take an 81-62 lead into the fourth. The Pistons let the reserves close out the fourth en route to the comfortable win. Game Notes Philadelphia has lost three of its last four ... Detroit scored 30 points off 22 Sixers turnovers ... The Pistons went 15-of-35 from beyond the arc and limited Philadelphia to 7-of-28 shooting from 3-point range ... D.J. Augustine dished out 10 assists off the Detroit bench. Cheap Jerseys Free ShippingWholesale NFL Camo JerseysNFL Jerseys From ChinaChina NFL GearCheap Jerseys Free ShippingWholesale JerseysStitched NFL Jerseys ' ' '